Fence-post.



P. J. HINDMARSH.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 30, 1913.

1,1 69,82 1 Patented E61). 1, 1916;

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PERCY J. HINDMARSH, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO JQMERICAN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, OF HOIBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A 001% FENCE-POST.

erence marked thereon.

My invention relates to poles or posts made of sheet steel bent into an angular form in cross section and .the principal object of my invention is to provide a construction, which, without any increase of metal will be stiffer so as to be able to better resist tendency to buckleunder horizontal pressure, and to this end my invention consists in the metal post constructed substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of a fence post embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof.

My post 10 is constructed of sheet steel which is bent so that its general shape in cross-section is that of a V, but with each edge or limb of the V bent backward so as to form a vertical flange 11 which lies parallel, or substantially parallel with the limb of the V, and hence, greatly stifl'ens the post so that it will resist bending under strains in directions crosswise of the fence wires which is the direction in which it is called upon to resist strain. The lower end of the post is preferably made pointed or sharp and in consequence of a horizontal cut or slit that is made sufliciently above the extremity of the post to enable the described formation of the stiffening flanges, a barb or shoulder 12 is provided on each limb of the V that constitutes an anchor when the post is driven into the ground. Preferably, a vertical slit 13 is made from the top of the anchor 12, downward, and the thus partially severed strip is bent, or inclined utward, so that any up' ward pull on the post after it is placed in the ground, will cause the anchors or flukes 12 to bend still farther outward and resist any Specification of Letters Fatent.

upward movement of the post. In addition to the anchors 12 thus provided, my post may be supplied with additional anchors in the form of pointed plates pivoted at their lower ends to the post so that when the post is driven into the ground the anchors will not offer any obstruction to the ready entrance of the post, but which by swinging outward upon any upward or outward tendency of the post will interlock with the earth by the engagement of their upper pointed ends therewith. One ofthese swinging anchor plates 14 may be pivoted at the front side of the post so as to be opposite the anchors 12, said anchor 14; being V-shaped in cross section so as to fit over the post; and one each of said swinging anchors may be applied on each of the inner sides of the post and these two anchors may be in the form of simple triangular plates 15. The dotted lines show the position of each of the pivoted anchors when it engages the earth.

It will be seen that by the method of form ing the stiffening flanges no more metal is required than would be required for making a post of the V-shape without the flanges so that without any additional cost as to metal I am able to produce a post of much greater stiffness. I

Besides being useful for fence posts, my invention is applicable to poles to support electric wires, etc.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is- A metal post having a V-shape in cross section with the free edges bent so as to form vertical flanges that lie substantially parallel with the sides of the V, the post having at its lower end shoulders where the flanges terminate, the bottom of the flange in the same horizontal plane with the top of the shoulder and 'a slit extending from such plane downward, the flange and shoulder extending in opposite directions horizontally from said slit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERC Y J. ITINDMARSH.

Witnesses:

G. H. MARK, H. C- COLLINS.

Patented Febd, with.

Application filed October so, 1913. Serial No. 798,269. 

